Mated by Midnight (Moonlight Mates #3)

Chapter 3

3

W hen Elijah’s hand shot out to catch her, the first thing he registered was how light she felt. Delicate even. Though there was nothing fragile in the way she moved.

Her skin was warm beneath his fingers. Even the wrinkled flesh at her elbow was soft as his grip steadied her. For a split second, he was caught—caught by the pulse of energy that thrummed between them, by the way her body instinctively leaned into his.

He shouldn’t have noticed. But he did. In that one instant, he took in everything about her.

Her eyes were the first thing that stole his breath—dark, wide, and framed by thick lashes. They were filled with a startled awareness that mirrored his own. They flickered with a depth, a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite place, but it was enough to make his chest tighten. They were the kind of eyes that hinted at secrets, at a strength hidden beneath layers of vulnerability.

She was beautiful, undeniably so. Her face, framed by loose strands of hair that glinted in the firelight, was a perfect blend of softness and sharp lines. High cheekbones, flushed from the night air. Lips that parted slightly, as if she was still catching her breath from the collision. Everything about her was mesmerizing—her skin, smooth and golden brown, the faint scent of something sweet lingering on her, mixing with the earth and smoke of the fire.

His gaze dropped briefly, taking in the curve of her neck, the way her dress clung to her body in all the right places without trying. She wasn’t dressed to impress anyone, but the simplicity of her appearance only made her more striking.

His wolf recognized her instantly.

Mate.

For a second, Elijah allowed himself to feel the weight of it. The pull. The undeniable truth. He was standing face to face with the most desirable woman he had ever encountered, the one meant for him in a way that transcended everything he knew.

Fated mate.

But he couldn’t have her. He didn't want her.

Liar , his wolf howled.

It was the truth, the human half of him insisted. He didn’t want a mate. Not now. Not ever.

She was fated to him, yes. But that didn’t mean he had to accept it. He had never wanted this—never wanted the complications, the ties, the vulnerability that came with having a fated mate. He’d seen what it had done to others, how it had broken his brother Caleb, how it had driven his oldest brother Gideon into years of fruitless searching. Even his Alpha was constantly distracted by the lack of a mate in his life.

Elijah had spent his life avoiding this moment. Instead, he'd chosen to revel in the freedom of his bachelorhood, in the power of choosing his own path. And now, with her standing before him, everything he’d avoided was threatening to unravel.

His hand lingered a moment too long on her arm. He should let go. Right now.

Elijah clenched his jaw, forcing himself to let go, to step back, to create the distance that both his mind and body fought against.

She was everything he didn’t want to need. And that was exactly why he couldn’t have her. His wolf clawed to get out. Elijah clamped his mouth shut to hold in the beast's howl. His breath caught in his throat as his instincts screamed for him to claim her, to close the distance between them and pull her into his arms.

Liza, who had been standing beside him moments before, must have sensed the shift in the air because she quietly excused herself, slipping into the crowd. Elijah barely noticed her leaving. His focus was entirely on the woman in front of him.

His mate's chest rose and fell rapidly. Her lips parted as though she, too, couldn’t catch her breath. The bond tugged between them, invisible yet impossibly strong. In her eyes, there wasn’t a glimmer of the connection he’d heard others speak of, no shared joy or excitement. Instead, there was only fear. That's what finally enabled him to let her go.

“This... this can’t happen,” she whispered, her voice trembling as her gaze flicked away, breaking the fragile connection between them. She took a step back. It looked like panic lifted her brows.

Wait—that was supposed to be his line. But she had said it. Those perfect lips were telling him no.

Inside his gut, his wolf growled. At him? At her? Elijah wasn't sure. He just knew he didn't like it.

Before he could say anything—before he could even find his voice to speak—she turned on her heel and ran.

Which was a mistake.

Everyone knew you weren't supposed to run from a wild animal. Especially not a wolf. They would chase you.

This woman was a shifter. She'd know that fact better than anyone. So maybe it was on purpose?

It didn't matter. The wolf inside him roared to life, instinct taking over. Chase , it commanded.

Elijah bolted after her, his mind, his body giving over to the hunt.

It was in his blood, and there was nothing quite like the thrill of the chase. His muscles bunched and flexed as he moved with practiced ease, weaving through the trees and the underbrush as the cool night air rushed past him. He could smell her, feel her presence even as she tried to put distance between them. Her scent was everywhere, clinging to the leaves, lingering in the space between the trees.

It was maddening.

It was intoxicating.

It was exhilarating.

Elijah’s wolf surged forward, his senses sharpening. He loved this part—the thrill of the hunt—but this time, it was different. This time, the prize wasn’t some target he’d been tracking for a mission. This was his mate. His fated mate.

And she was running from him.

His blood sang with the need to close the gap, to catch her, to make her stop and lick her from her toes to that button nose of hers.

She wasn’t making it easy for him. Her footsteps were light, barely audible against the forest floor. Didn't matter. He could track her without fail.

She darted between the trees, but he heard her. Her breath came in quick bursts. She was trying to lose him, trying to shake him off. But she didn’t know who she was dealing with.

A grin tugged at the corner of his lips as he pushed harder, his breath steady as his body moved like a predator on the prowl. She was fast, but he was faster. He caught a flash of her figure disappearing behind a thick grove of trees.

He knew exactly where she was going. She didn’t stand a chance.

With a final burst of speed, Elijah closed the distance. He leaped forward, his body moving with perfect precision as he cut off her escape route. He cornered her against the towering trees.

She whirled to face him, her chest heaving with exertion. Her eyes were wide. They were wild, her own animal shining through. Unlike the human, whose lips were pursed, her wolf was excited.

Then she blinked, and the excitement was gone. What replaced it was all human. And the human was all defiance.

“This can’t... we can’t...”

Elijah didn’t give her a chance to finish. Or rather, his wolf didn't. In one swift movement, the beast stepped forward. Elijah watched hands reach out to pull her against him. His grip was firm but not rough. His fingers curled into the fabric of her dress as if anchoring himself to the one thing that made sense in this whirlwind of confusion.

It was her wolf that came to him. He knew because of the soft growl that escaped her perfect lips. Her scent filled his lungs, a mix of wildflowers and rain. The feeling of her body pressed against his made his heart stutter in his chest.

The bond crackled between them, electric and raw, and before either of them could think better of it, Elijah dipped his head and captured her lips in a kiss. Or she lifted up on her toes and lunged for his mouth. He wasn't sure. It didn't matter.

The moment their lips met, everything else fell away.

It wasn’t gentle. It was desperate, hungry, fueled by the fire that had been kindling between them since the moment they laid eyes on each other. Which was just moments ago. But it felt like he'd known her forever. Even though he didn't know her name.

Didn't matter. She was his.

Her breath hitched against his mouth. Her hands pressed to his chest, like she would push him away. Instead, she grabbed at his shirt. Her fingers curled into the fabric as if she needed something to hold on to.

Elijah kissed her deeply, his lips moving against hers with a possessiveness that surprised even him. She gave as good as she got. The bond was alive between them, a living, breathing thing that wrapped around their hearts, pulling them closer, tighter. His body responded to hers instinctively, his wolf howling in satisfaction as her resistance crumbled and she melted into him.